Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Day 1

It sounded like a bunch of nonsense when the Ealdormen told him of the maiden with forge fire hair. That was just a folk tale, told to kids that would gamble too close to the hot coals of their fathers work.

"You shall search deep in the savage east and bring her to the Claim, her blessing will help our firepower grow stronger than the Carja and save our lands and people."  

He thought they'd gone mad for good. That, or they were hoping to get him killed away from his own land.

That's until months later, when they crossed the gate to a beautiful forest, 'The Embrace'.

He was alone when it happened, Joruf and Aldur preparing the tents, while he was in charge of getting the firewood before it got dark. This was as deep into Nora lands as they could be. 

"What a surprise, no forgefire haired deity to be found." The young man mused seizing his axe.

With practiced skill and raw strength, Erend methodically chopped logs into neatly split wood. Each impact sent a jolt through his arms, quickly forgotten as he repositioned for the next strike, the rich and earthy smell of freshly cut wood filling his senses and relaxing his mind.

Erend inhaled deeply. The first droplet of sweat broke free, glistening against his skin, trailing down his temple, tracing his jawline down to his neck, before disappearing into the fabric of his shirt. He stood firmly, legs slightly apart for balance, as he sized up the log before him. With a firm grip, he raised his axe high above his head, muscles tensing and bulging under his shirt.

But as Erend prepared to bring the tool down, the peaceful sounds of the forest were cut as an arrow sliced the air and killed a rabbit a few feet from him.

He quickly turned to face the source of the disturbance, weapon gripped firmly in his hand. All he could register before the blur disappeared behind a tree was a banner of wild fiery locks.

His hand slacked, and his axe fell on the earth with a thud. 

She was real . 

The initial shock distracted him from the ready arrow pointed at him from afar. He would be dead, if it wasn’t for  the evening sun hitting the metal tip, reflecting directly into his eyes. 

"Wait!" He said dodging the lethal arrow. "I just wanna talk!"

A deafening silence formed for some seconds. She was hearing his position and movements, he knew that. As he waited patiently, she slowly appeared from her hiding spot, stretched bow in his direction.

Not only was her hair magnificent but her strong figure and chartreuse eyes stunned Erend. She didn't look like what he, and probably any Oseram, imagined.

No divine red leather and cotton tunic, only a simple animal skin and linen clothing, ornamented with humble loose necklaces and a hunting belt. 

No pale skin slightly stained by the charcoal of the forge, but a tanned one adorned with exotic freckles capable of competing with a bright night sky.

No thick curves or long lashes, just a smooth muscled body and simple features.

No mighty forging axe, but a handmade bow ideal for machine hunting.

And she was beautiful . Her strength shined in her cautious eyes and perfect posture as she approached.

"No one talks to me. Who are you?" She demanded. Her body was still held rigid, holding the arrow with determination. Curiosity danced in her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line as she accessed him.

Erend only managed to stammer some weird breaths and sounds, incapable of forming coherent words under her scrutinizing gaze.

The woman relaxed her bow. "You're hurt."

He locked eyes with her. "What?"

"You're hurt!" She repeated, reaching for his arm and lifting it to access the damage.

Once he saw the wound, the pain registered into his brain. His dodging was not enough, the arrow cut open the flesh near his armpit, just millimeters away from his Oseram armor.

"That's just great," He resented, the blood rapidly staining his outer protection and the inner striped shirt.

After touching the curious trinket in her ear, the freckled female promptly left her bow and started unclasping the sides of his armor. "Take this." She said, shoving a handful of berries into his face.

"What are you doing?" Erend panicked, holding down his shirt as she tried to pull it above his head.

"Saving your life, idiot." She tugged again.

Erend held it down again. The woman gave him an annoyed look. "What if you don't like what you see?" He muttered.

"Please." She rolled her eyes. "I'm a Huntress, I see wounds all the time."

That was not his concern. But, since he didn't budge, she threw her arms in the hair. "Great, die then! Don't let the outcast help you!"

She turned to flee and, in a boost of courage, he took off the linen garment and threw it aside.

"You didn't tell me your name."

She looked back one more time and didn't look disgusted at the amount of ugly scars that traveled his chest.

"Aloy." She lifted his arm again, completely absorbed in the work at hand. "I don't remember you saying yours either."

"Erend." he smiled despite the pain.

&__&

"You're late." The man looked straight forward at the darkening sunset.

Aloy abstractedly rested her bow and a rabbit at the table. "What?"

"You never arrive home this late." Rost turned to look at the red haired teen.

'I shot a man and needed to staunch the bleeding or he would die. Also, his name is Erend and he was the only person other than you that talked to me freely, so excuuuuse me if I took longer than usual.'

No way Aloy could say that without inviting a thorough investigation and being lectured the rest of the night.

"I needed to clean myself." Well, it wasn't a lie either. She had to get rid of the big reddish stains on her hands after making sure Erend arrived at his camp.

The excuse seemed to work, as Rost finally shut the door and prepared the stew.

___

Day 2

He isn't mad! Fire and spit, he saw, he felt this woman!

"Hey, Erend! Going to fantasy land again? This time bring the wood!" 

He couldn't help but grumble. Had he shut up, he wouldn't be a walking joke for the two men right now. Better, had he not decided to take them into this quest, they wouldn't laugh in his face about him finding the exact thing they were looking for.

Apparently, if you claim to have seen (and felt, that's when the forging hell fell apart) a legendary woman, who coincidentally was roughly your age, beautiful greenshine eyes and sunkissed skin, that makes you a hormonal teen that hasn't seen a woman for too long.

Erend hit the tree trunk harder. No wound, no foreign looking bind around his shoulder and torso, no way too bloodied clothes to be an accident made them believe him. 

"What did that tree do to you?” 

Erend bolted upright at the honeyed voice sounding behind him.

“You’re back!” He called, his surprise bare on his face as he turned to look at her.

Aloy sat on the cut logs by the mutilated tree, her slight smile at his response almost imperceptible. “Of course, I live here. I should be the one surprised to see you again.”

“Good point,” he grunted as his axe sliced the wood, the two halves finally crumbling to the pressure.

The feat was impressive, and it didn't escape Aloy's keen eye.

"Besides…" She bit her lip reaching for new linen and salve. "That wound will need some more help."

Erend startled. "You don't need to." His hand covered his chest all the way to his shoulder by reflex. "Thanks for caring but-"

"If you're really thankful, sit your ass right here and let me work." She lifted her voice with a dead serious tone that caused Erend's brain to stop and just do as she demanded.

When the young man sat in one obedient swift motion, Aloy took the liberty to discard the striped shirt above his head.

"So, Erend…" The name flowed easily as Aloy started her ministrations. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from the Claim." he said. Her curious but confused gaze urged him to explain more. "Almost a month’s travel northwest from here… My hometown is covered by snow most of the year, but as we left…" Erend kept talking about the smells, scenery and machines they encountered along the way.

Aloy was stunned by how much of the world she hadn't explored, yet this young man, bigger but not much older than her, got to see with his own two eyes. Stories of snow filled landscapes, everworking settlements, majestic ruins and scorching deserts filled her mind of awe and curiosity about those lands.

Only when Erend talked about her well known Embrace, she cut him off. "What urged you three to come all the way here?"

Well, it's funny you asked that, because the answer is you. 

Haha, perfect. If he can convince Aloy to show up to those two idiots, he will be a jester no longer. Easy.

He opened his mouth only to close it again by the next answer in his mind.

Why? Ya'see my people are at war and sent me to search for this divine entity with copper red hair so she could help us win, so if you could just accompany me to the distant-

Huh. That sounds awful.

"Just exploring! Ya'know, different places, different people! What's not to like? I mean- ouch !" He stretched his wound, gesturing wildly under the pressure of his lie.

"Hold still!" She chided, unable to hold a chortle at his openness, before a comfortable silence set between them.

The idea was absurd! Not because she clearly is a normal human being - even though that's a damn strong point - but firstly because he couldn't do that to her. 

Erend followed her movement trailing the partially healed tear. Aloy didn't owe the Oseram anything, except being kind and attentive to his needs. She had a seemingly steady life here, away from the horrors of power starved men and their tyranny. 

That's when Erend decided her existence would be their little secret. No matter what happened.

Day 3

Aloy shouldn't be up and about that time of the day. She was supposed to be training by the outskirts of her house, but strayed a little west to the little Oseram camp.

The hearth was dimly lit by the morning dew, and the trio slept soundly. She watched warily as the remaining light basked the men in an aureate glow. 

Needless to say, Aloy took an innocent glimpse at Erend's sleeping figure, his soft mohawk and short mutton chops sticking in weird angles, his earring reflecting the dusk’s first light and the little puffs of breath leaving his lips. But then her chartreuse eyes traveled to a sole scar on his side, half visible under the hem of the thin shirt.

Aloy followed the mark to its end on Erend’s back, when she met the eerie display of disfigurements firmly etched onto his skin.

Dozens of badly healed cuts, burns and blows haphazardly stacked on top of eachother gave Aloy a dreadful feeling. She remembered the scars on his chest she vaguely registered a couple days ago. These were way worse. He wore them like a whole cape, starting on his chest and only ending low on his back.

She hitched to analyze closer the disfigurements traveling his body but a loud snore broke her trance.

“Hnnn… Aldur, shut up,” The other man groaned. 

“Huhg, it is too early for this.” Erend grunted back.

By the time the men lifted their groggy heads from the ground, Aloy was already running back to the mountain unnoticed.

&-&

Erend lifted his axe from the ground and rested the heavy instrument on his shoulder. “Gonna cut some logs for the fire, be back soon.”

It was ridiculous the giddiness Erend felt while he strolled to the small clearing he was slowly creating in the heart of the valley. It was not the prospect of work that the Oseram was looking forward to, of course. Rather, he was hoping for the appearance of his new Nora friend.

He started hitting a froundose tree, big but long dead, and aimed the blows with practiced ease. After a reasonable amount of work the tree snapped onto its vacant side and fell squarely into the clearing, lifting a dense cloud of dust and dirt.

Erend shielded his eyes from the particles, and once the golden dust began to sit there she was - Aloy.

Just like that, his traitorous heart drummed again. Aloy wore a kind smile, her hands calmly hidden behind her back.

“Good evening, how are you feeling?” Her voice was soft, like she was trying not to break a delicate moment.

But Erend was not the kind of man to be delicate. “Good! You're hiding something…” He laughed. “Oh! Is it a present for me?” He tilted his head mockingly trying to peek.

Unfortunately, he was more of the jokester, self sabotaging type. But that didn't seem to break Aloy’s aura as she freed one of her hidden hands to brush a braid behind her ear.

“Yes, kind of.” She answered, finally showing the mysterious object in her hands.

Erend’s gears turned looking at the ever so small plant in her palm. “You want… to give me a flower?”

Aloy stammered quickly. “Not the- What I-” she halted and laughed at her predicament. “Have you ever seen a hintergold flower?”

“I mean, not in the Claim but I’ve often seen them in your Nora lands. Why?”

“They have very good healing properties when digested…” She fidgeted with her hands around the stem of the plant. “...and their leaves create a powerful paste for scarring.”

Erend gulped soundly and tried to divert the talking. “That- That’s good. Maybe in the future I can’t accuse you of trying to kill me.” 

“Yeah, anybody will be none the wiser.” She grinned back at him. “But it is also good for old scars, like some you seem to have.” She mustered the courage to say. “I’ve brought my hintergold mix if you’d like to try it.” She stuffed her hand in her pouch and offered him a carved wooden cylinder.

Erend smiled gratefully at her. Every single one of those wounds were etched not only on his body but principally on his brain. But, somehow, Aloy made him feel safe about them, like they weren’t the heavy burden that always marked his life. 

“I can help you if you’d like.” The gruesome marks were mere details in Aloy's eyes. It was as terrifying as it was freeing.

Erend let himself put his guard down once again, discarding his Oseram armor and shirt on top of the fallen tree. 

“I’ll put some here too.” She crouched to his level, untying the, still fresh (that’s good), bind protecting his armpit.

Aloy didn’t take too long before straying to the skin around his shoulders and trailing to his back. 

Erend was overwhelmed and certainly blushing from the bold touches, but couldn’t help relaxing under her care. If Aloy was flustered she didn’t show it, by the contrary, she looked at ease, a small warm smile gracing her face.

“Erend… how did you get all of these?” The young Nora felt him tense under her fingertips.

A booming voice rang in his ears, the smell of scorching iron and blood filled his throat leaving a sickening aftertaste he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Ehh… Y’know fighting machines, dumb accidents and stuff like that…”

The chirping of wild birds and their breaths were the only thing filling the silence. After a while, Aloy stopped her ministrations and exhaled somberly. 

“You don’t need to lie to me.” She whispered. “Sorry, I just- Forget it, I should go.” The young woman retracted, hugging herself downcast.

“Hey…” Erend tried, seeing the Nora turn away. “Aloy…” At that, she slowly twisted to look at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you…”  

Aloy, pitifully, averted her eyes. 

After a beat, Erend called. “See you tomorrow?”

That seemed to alleviate her face, the ghost of a smile lifting her freckled cheek. “Yeah… See you tomorrow.”

Day 4

Aloy didn't know what came over her to react that way.

Maybe she was afraid to lose the only friend she had ever had by being her curious self.

Maybe she thought Erend felt close to her as she did to him.

Maybe she was worried for him…

Fact is, she shouldn’t have pushed the subject. 

No matter if the markings were clearly made on youngerflesh, stretched by time and age, making them discolored under his already pale skin. 

Aloy analyzed her hand under the moonlight, recalling the heat in her palm hours before. 

She shouldn't have asked regardless of the fact that his scars continued through time, the newer ones not older than a year.

Even if Aloy was concerned about the way Erend flinched at her question…

She shouldn't ask…

And, yeah, Aloy knew it wasn’t her right to know, but couldn't shake away the feeling that Erend was hurting, that he needed help…

… but he didn't trust her.

&-&

As Aloy rubbed the dense balm across Erend’s broad back, she assumed if someone was there to witness them, it would be painful to watch. Only a handful of words were exchanged since she arrived at the growing clearing. The rhythmic feeling of Erend’s breath below her palms was the only thing that grounded Aloy into thinking all of this was real and not a distorted illusion of her mind.

“Hey, about yesterday,” Aloy almost jumped at the sudden reverberation of his voice. “I have an idea.”

She gently lifted her hand and let it curl inches away from his skin. “What?” She inquired softly.

“I’ll tell you how I got these scars,” Erend paused. “But I get to know something about you too.”

Aloy was surprised. All night she had mulled about Erend and his reluctance about his scars, just for him to offer it freely - under the pretext of knowing her. 

It was almost unfair, him telling her something that felt so overwhelming, but she certainly wouldn’t break this sudden burst of trust. “Very well.” She accepted, sitting by his side. “And what exactly would you like to know?”

“The first time we met.” He tilted his head back, letting the loose shirt fall back into his body. “You said no one talks to you… why?”

As the words left Erends lips, Aloy regretted asking. Aloy didn’t want him to see her differently, or worse, grow pity on her.

Chartreuse and steely blue eyes met, and Aloy felt a hypocrite for expecting Erend to open up about the scars he bore, when she herself felt reluctant in sharing the answer to his question.

Both of them were stepping the line to uncharted territory… 

Erend’s face fell into uncertainty. “I didn’t mean to-”

“No. It’s okay.” She courageously cut him off. “I never had to tell someone about that before, that’s all.”

The worry etched in Erend’s eyebrows eased as he leaned attentively.

…And both of them would have to take the leap of faith.

Aloy huffed. “I've been an outcast since I can remember, living apart from the tribe. I was shunned as a baby because I don’t have a mother.” Aloy felt somehow ashamed, choosing to focus on her fiddling fingers. “People usually avoid me… You’re not from here, so it’s understandable that you didn’t know better-”

“Even if I was from ‘round here” Erend cut. “Avoiding someone just because you don’t know who birthed them… That’s just nonsense.”

But it explained why the handful of Nora that reluctantly agreed to talk to them on their way to the Embrace had no idea about a fiery-haired Nora. 

An agreeing silence stretched through the valley.

“So, all these years,” Erend whispered. “You’ve been on your own, left to fend for yourself?”

A shy smile played in Aloy’s face. “Well, yeah, almost… Rost, another outcast, raised me. And a couple people actually let me breathe the same air as them without shooing me away.”

“Okay,” Aloy straightened her posture, stroking a lock of hair resting on her shoulder. “Enough of my miserable life story. Your turn.” She offered.

Erend left out a dejected chuckle. “Mine isn’t much better.” He let his forearms rest on his thighs, leaning forward.

Aloy waited patiently for Erend. The evening wind whispered through the leaves, the sound of birds slowly giving away to the chirping of crickets. But her eyes stayed, filled with a complex mix of concern and curiosity, searching for the words he wasn't saying. 

“My father…” Erend whispered, so softly Aloy didn't register the words.

His gaze was vacant, lost in a labyrinth full of painful memories, each scar a landmark of their reality.

“My father did them.” This time his voice was clear, strong, besides his defeated posture. “Since I was a little lad, strong enough to stand on my feet and fail miserably at everything.” 

The simple truth laden with unspoken stories, seemed to echo in the stillness, reverberating against the trees that stood as silent witnesses to Erend’s admission.

Aloy's heart ached for Erend. For a long time she didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know what to say. 

In the quiet that followed, she reached out, her hand hesitating in the air above the subject of her stare.

Her hand trembled under the whirlwind of her mind, the desire to comfort Erend fighting the visceral reminder of her own isolation.

But as her hand tentatively rested upon his, Aloy found the strength to try being the pillar Erend needed. 

“You don't deserve that…” Each heartbeat under her palm is a bittersweet symphony, both a salve and a painful sting. “Nobody ever stopped it?”

“There’s not much one can do.” Erend straightened but chose to look up at the darkening sky than at her. “He is an Ealdorman, one of the men in charge of our tribe. Which means no one can go against him. The man has the status and the brawn to back it up.”

Aloy didn’t rush to fill the quiet with words. Instead, she offered a comforting silence, allowing him to process his emotions at his own pace. “There’s my sister, though.” Erend smiled fondly. “Ersa always stood up for me.”

As the sun began to dip lower, casting a warm glow over the scene, Aloy’s voice was soft. "She sounds amazing."

“ Ah. You bet.” Now this was a subject Erend was very comfortable with. He wouldn’t mind talking about Ersa, but he wasn’t that stupid.

Talking about his sister would bring the bitter reality. Why she left the Claim a few months ago. There was a war going on outside of this Sacred lands and he isn’t going to bring, not even the whisper of it, here.

“It’s getting late. We should probably go, since you have someone waiting for you too.”

Aloy’s eyes, once glued to his, briskly looked to the horizon. As she got up, Erend had little to no time to miss the warmth that danced on his fingers.

“You’re right, it’s so late.” She looked between him and the mountain. Aloy frantically kissed Erend’s cheek and dashed away. “I have to go, see you tomorrow!”

As she disappeared in the shadows, Erend looked dumbfounded at where Aloy once was. 

It was only a goodbye, but he couldn’t help but realize his heart was being forged around her very existence. As doomed as the feeling was, he couldn’t, he wouldn’t give it away. It felt like he was alive for the first time in his life.

Next up

There’s an old adage amongst the Nora faithful: Every man is fooled once. Twice, are fooled the naive. But only a real fool falls trice.

Rost isn’t a fool. 

Chapter Text

Day 5

There’s an old adage amongst the Nora faithful: Every man is fooled once. Twice, are fooled the naive. But only a real fool falls trice.

Rost isn’t a fool. 

He was always an apologist for giving Aloy her independence. Since the girl proved she could fend for herself just fine in the wild, Rost never felt the need to check on Aloy when she was away for the day.

But, last night, as his protégé arrived home later than usual for the second time that week - this time with a still half blooded rabbit, nonetheless - Rost knew something was up.

So, as the dawn rose from the horizon and Aloy stepped out of her home with her trusted bow slung over her shoulder, Rost followed the young girl from afar.

It didn't take long for Aloy to arrive at her training ground, trees pierced with sturdy stakes and wooden pathways way farther from where he had left them. But Aloy climbed and jumped from one platform to another, reaching the top almost effortlessly, so high up Rost could barely see the smile growing on her face. 

Aloy let the first rays of sun kiss her skin, her silhouette leaning against the top of the imponent tree. This high up she could see the morning light warm all the valley, and, of course, her eyes roamed southwest.  

There, the sun was gradually claiming the busy little Oseram camp. The foreign trio was already working methodically - the first putting out the fire, while the other two chatted in front of a few scrolls.

This high up she couldn't tell which of the men was Erend. She couldn't wait to see him again.

But now, Aloy busied herself with some hunting. Heavens know how mortified she had been the day before, looking up at a frowning Rost with a scurried hunted rabbit in tow. 

After some leaping, her feet were back on the ground. The young Nora twisted one of her braids remembering last evening.

She lost track of the time talking with Erend. They connected in a way that left her in a loss of words.

She never imagined interacting with people would feel this way. And she was still skeptical that it won’t. 

The thought of Erend brought a unique warmth that traveled deep in her bones. That same feeling had urged her to kiss his cheek goodbye, last time. The new sensation made her giddiness hit a new high that night. It felt so natural, her brain only catching on when she was deep into the darkening forest.

With Erend she felt normal, light, wanted . She had never felt this way with Rost or Karst, even less with Old Grata.

Speaking of Grata…

Thump , the arrow hit her first victim.

She could bring some food for her as she was at it.

Throughout the day, Aloy hunted skillfully both machines and animals, bringing most of her hunting efforts to Old Grata, who stayed ever devoted, praying to All Mother on behalf of her helpers, instead of talking with them, of course.

Rost even had a hard time tracking the girl, her trails light and fleeting as the Embrace’s snow, and her boots crunching ever so softly on the dewy grass.

But the man wasn't going to give up so easily. No, the outcast was very close to the truth. He could feel it as Aloy twisted her head at the sound of a falling tree and bolted through the woods, her eyes lively with excitement.

Rost alert senses paid off as he crouched behind a useful combination of tall grass and well positioned bushes, to see Aloy approach an unfamiliar figure.

“You're here early.” He heard her breathe softly, her words laced with sweetness.

“Hey” A handsome smile appeared on the stranger's lips as he received his protégé “so are you.”

Masterfully hidden, Rost seized the young man up and down. Dark brown hair, atrocious beard and bright blue eyes contrasted with his pale skin. Well cured leather adorned with metal protected him, clasped over the cotton garments covering his body, rolled up to showcase his thick forearms.

An outlander . The word left an itchy sensation in his throat. An intruder in their Sacred Lands, estranged from their ways, oblivious to the sanctity of All Mother and Her guidance. 

But Aloy didn't seem to care. On the contrary, she took the opportunity to mock all he has taught her.

“Well…” Aloy laughed, before averting the subject. “How are you feeling? That wound’s been causing you trouble?”

“Nah, I'm all good.” He answered, throwing and catching the ax he was using with ease. “Y’see?”

“Ok, ok, Erend, be careful.” She reasoned, good-naturedly. “Let me see how it looks…” 

Erend - Rost ruminated the foreign name - discarded the striped garment covering his chest on the ground willingly, too willingly , and the older outcast couldn't help but scrape a clump of dirt under his nails at the preposterous situation unfolding before him.

Aloy sat promptly beside Erend , untying the bind that held a healthy scab near the soft skin of his armpit, unnecessarily touching the skin around his shoulder and bicep as she massaged the healing wound with her precious hintergold paste.

“You're right, two or three days and you should be good as new.” Aloy mused.

Rost assumed she would take her hands off this Erend now, but his stomach churned as they traveled further, across and down the strangers’ back.

Rost knew what was happening there, and oh, oh, no, he was not happy with what he was seeing.

The man had to stop the visceral urge to leap from the bushes to separate them.

But Rost was patient, always waiting for the right moment to strike, and this was no different.

So he waited, as they talked… He waited, as he saw their hands intertwine innocently - but they aren’t fooling him, oh no, he knew very well that look in their eyes… -  He still waited as the sun went down… He waited as Aloy gave a chaste kiss to Erend's cheek… and he waited as the young man reciprocated with a soft but inexcusably longer one.

&-&

Aloy’s skin prickled at the feeling of Erend's lips, and giggled as his mutton chops tickled her cheek.

Her heart soared, feeling Erend's smile as it parted from her skin, a smile identical to the one plastered on her face. She felt silly, not used to showing so much emotion, but the uncontainable smile fought against her, pulling so hard her cheeks hurt. “I have to go now…”

“Y’said that already…” He answered lightly, unaware of the way Aloy was held captive to his kind cerulean eyes.

“See you tomorrow.” She tried, finally releasing herself from the strange pull that kept her close to him.

Her heart pumped wildly through her body as she collected the boar she had left prepared and went up the mountain. 

The freckled girl almost danced, her feet light as the evening breeze as she arrived home. She opened the door, its hinges creaking against the unusual silence. “...Rost?”

“Behind you.” The monotone voice called. 

Aloy was surprised by her mentor’s furrowed brows and crossed arms. The darkening sky stretched his silhouette, casting a long, menacing shadow over the young woman. “How long has this been going on?”

Her muscles tensed. “ What has been going on?” 

Wrong answer. Rost held her gaze, his stoic expression piercing her like a blade. After a tense silence, he uttered a single word - “Erend”. The syllables dripped from his lips like acid leaving a bad taste in his tongue. 

Her blood iced as panic seeped in her lungs. Suddenly, her beautiful warm evening turned into a nightmarish cold night, and she had no voice to defend herself.

“How long did you think you could keep this going?” 

Rost had followed her, it was unnerving. Worse even, she had let her guard down, and now she was paying the bitter price. 

The man continued. “I thought better of you.” 

Contrasting with Rost's cold bite, Aloy's crescendoing rage was fervent, boiling under her skin at the unfairness of it all.

“It’s not my fault I was born an outcast.” She let out an uneven breath, her burning gaze rivaling Rost’s. “I always did everything right, I'm stronger and agiler than any brave I’ve seen! I can do just well on my own, I don't need you to supervise me.”

“This is not about your skills, Aloy, it’s about followin-”

“Nora rules” Aloy cut. “Nora traditions!” She screamed. “By the way, Erend was the first to speak, not me, and he was badly hurt.” She skipped the part where it was her arrow slicing him. “I am just helping him recover, that's all!”

That's far from all, Rost was tempted to say. Aloy was smitten, the outcast just wasn't sure the girl was aware of it yet.

He tamed the scowl contorting his features and opted to avoid that confrontation. “I solely want to guide you well, Aloy. You need to stay focused to get the answers you need. Don't let anyone, even less some outlander, distract you.”

His tone was definitive. Aloy could only oblige. “Yes, you’re right… I'll keep that lesson in mind.”

&-&

Almost sixteen years of her life: Surviving the wilds, training for the Proving. That's what she was aiming for, is aiming for… wishing, hoping , that answer will cure the crater in her soul.

Yes, Rost was right , Aloy conceded laying in bed, the stars her only witnesses. 

Aloy absentmindedly traced her thumb over the soft skin of her cheek. But how could Erend be a distraction, when she felt the strength of mountains and the grace of rivers whenever she thought of him?

Day 6

The tranquil moonlit night covered the sleeping trio, nestled by the canopy of rustling leaves. The embers’ light was long gone, its heat forgotten in the warm night.

“Erend…” The wind whispered. Yet, it could never make him sway this much. “ Erend… Pssst, Erend!”

The young man rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Heavy sleeper, huh?” A familiar voice seemed to mutter.

Yet Erend couldn't be tricked, the world was still dark over his eyelids and this early in the night, dreams and reality blurred more often than not.

But then he opened one eye, met with the bright full moon and chartreuse eyes looking down at him. Then he registered an unusual feather-like tickle near his ear.

Oh, forging hell. 

Erend bolted upright. “Aloy, what are you doing here?” He whisper-yelled. Before she could answer, his hand covered her toothy grin. “Fire and spit, you can't be here!” He chastised, getting up frantically.

Aloy's smile faltered in confusion, her words laced with offense. “Why not?”

Erend's panic spiked as the last syllable shriled in the night. His heartbeat drummed in his chest as he eyed the two sleeping figures warily. “I promise I’ll explain everything. But we have to go, now .”

Aloy was tired of the neverending rollercoaster of emotions, but as the Oseram alarmingly clasped his warm hands over the cold bumps of her arms, she let him guide her away from the encampment.

Erend's brutally awakened and anxious body carried him to their clearing, before surrendering to tiredness, sitting over the stump of a tree. 

“Missed me already?” He tried, still gasping for air, the ghost of a smile finally gracing his lips.

Aloy snorted at his joke, sitting beside him. “Don't try to dodge so quickly, you still have some explaining to do.” Her tone was as friendly as it was cautious.

“Heh, worth the shot.” He huffed. In the nocturnal silence that followed, Erend admired the way Aloy’s hair silvered under the moonlight and her breath puffed against the cold.

He didn't know what would happen after he told her the real reason he was there. Erend selfishly thought he could keep Aloy from the horrors of war, shielding her of the troubles outside of this pacific land - as pacific as Nora ground can be.

He still wanted to, but he had no chance now - Aloy deserved to know, as much as it pained him. “The truth is, we didn’t come here just for exploration- Iknowthat’swhatIsaid and I’m sorry.” The words spilled out like a waterfall as he raced before Aloy could interject.

Then he stopped. Aloy snapped her mouth shut again, waiting for the rest. So he took a deep breath, the air flowing into his nostrils, filling his lungs, cooling his torso all the way to his belly. 

Lastly, he allowed it to leave his system, choosing his next words carefully.

Aloy raised an eyebrow. She could see the worry narrowing Erend's kind eyes, the gears in his brain turning. “You don't need to sugarcoat it. Give it to me straight.”

“There’s a war going on.” He whispered helplessly. The conjoined sound of rustling armor and thudding footsteps echoed in his ears. “Not just for my people but everywhere…”

The weight of the bitter truth hung heavily in the air around them. “This has been going on for almost two years now.” Erend's gaze fell on his bootless feet. “These troops, the Carja … They are ruthless butchers. At first they captured travelers and isolated merchants, but now they are raiding us, attacking our settlements , killing and taking captives…” His breath itched, his eyes burning with red banners, red trails, red hands. “There's rumors that they sacrifice them, slaughtered by machines. But nobody ever came back to tell.”

Erend took a pause to look at Aloy, her eyes were wide and unblinking, searching for something in his own. “So you fled?” The mix of pity and indignation on her tone was clear. 

“No, of course not!” He defended, and could see Aloy's tense posture relax slightly. “We were sent here.”

“Why?” She urged, leaning forward.

“Looking for…” A miracle? A hero? Erend didn't know. “Like the Nora, the Oseram have some divinities - more like legends than worshiping deities.” 

Aloy's fiery strands cascaded over her shoulder as she tilted her head and Erend’s heart constricted in his chest. “There’s this folktale about the first Oseram blacksmith, how, one night, as he let the scraps of a machine be woven by the flames a woman appeared from the heart of the furnace - a woman with forge fire hair - that guided the blacksmith hammer to create the sturdiest and deadliest creations out of molten metal and sparks…”

Aloy's hand absentmindedly traveled to one of her braids at the mention. Erend gulped. “There was word of a Nora that carried her same traits… and we were sent to take her to the Claim…”

Of course. How could she have been so stupid? All the talking , the handsome smiles, the affection - all of it had a goal. And she was stupid enough to think he genuinely cared about her.

She got up, dizzy from all the emotions crossing her mind. They could have taken her already - well, they could have tried - but they didn’t. Why? And amidst all this was a war? How close was it to the Embrace? Does Rost know about it? Why has she never heard of it? Why was Erend telling her this now? 

“Hey, Aloy… Aloy please, wait…” She heard Erend over the cacophony in her mind. He was already upright when she looked at him. “I haven’t-”

                 …Erend

From the darkness of the night a distant voice called. Erend's blue eyes darted back and forth in alarm. “I have to go.”

                  Hey Erend…

Aloy's feet were already carrying her slowly backwards, but Erend's palm grasped her wrist. “Promise I'll see you later.”

                  Erend, where’re you?

Aloy remained silent, torn between his pleading gaze and her own reasoning. 

She can't meet him like she did before, even if she wanted to - and not so deep down she does - her conversation with Rost was final and that's exactly why she reached for him at this time of the night. 

                  Erend!

On the other hand, his heart was hammering against his chest loudly, searching for an answer in Aloy’s face, anything to hold on to. But Aldur’s voice was closer every second. They were running out of time. “Go… I’ll be waiting. Same place, same time.” He whispered to her before letting her go.

So did Aloy. Or not quite. She hid nearby, close enough to see the calling person - a young man, older than Erend, with a chubby face and thick frowning eyebrows. “Erend! Fire and spit, why didn’t you answer? Why are you here?”

“Calm your forge, Aldur, I was heading back already.”

“I heard voices, were you talking with someone?” 

“No, man, y’re imagining things.”

Aldur let out a panicky huff. “Being this deep into the savage east gives me the creeps. Let’s go before Joruf starts looking for both of us.”

&-&

The flames danced in a mesmerizing pattern, subject to Aloy's trance as she methodically crafted arrows. 

She tried to convince herself she was only looking for answers, that she wasn't eager to talk to him. 

They would clear things up - quick and precise, like the arrow she held - and they would go their separate ways, in the best of outcomes.

Her throat tightened at the thought, just for a second. Hastily, Aloy focused on securing the worn linen strip to the arrow’s neck and climbing her obstacle course to the very top, where she had been the day before.

There it was, the growing clearing, showcasing a sole person relentlessly chopping parts of a large trunk into neat pieces of firewood.

She could almost make out the smell of wood and hintergold she would feel, if she was there. 

Aloy sighed, pushing the arrow back, the feathers on its tail caressing her cheek before its whistle got lost in the distance.

And it traveled a long way, slicing the air and enduring against its resistance, until it reached its target.

Thump, the sound nearly got lost under the thwack of Erend's ax into splitting wood. 

The young man’s blue eyes trailed to the intrusion, looking around before eyeing the mysterious arrow. Once he unraveled the frayed cloth tied to it, a message appeared:

“Not safe here. Go west, I wait there. Aloy.” was written in squiggly, almost inteligible charcoal lines.

She reached out to him. If Erend was being honest, he was doubting she would leave him hanging. 

And he was so willing, she could lure him into the narrow desolate valley, isolated and barely unharmed, by the looks of it. But he couldn't listen to reason now, Erend was ecstatic she gave him a chance. 

So he followed the path beyond the old gate, alongside the soft stream, the tall outcropping casting shadow where otherwise would be light.

Erend walked, until he saw Aloy waiting, sitting under a majestic tree, its gnarled and sinewy roots took the ground as its own and its cascading branches made the slim leaves look like rain stilled above them.

The leaves rustled faintly with the wind. “I can't go.” Aloy said, once his eyes rested on her.

Erend looked around, still taking in the scenery, before his clueless gaze rested on her expectant one. “What are you talking about?”

She gave a bewildered step back at Erend’s question. How could he not know? Wasn’t this why they were here and now? But he only stood there waiting for her answer, silly smile on his face.

Aloy looked up into his eyes. “Erend, I can’t go with you to the Claim.” She pleaded. “I’m sorry, but I have my own battle to fight.” Her heart was torn as she rambled. “I need to know why the Nora outcasted me, they will tell me if I win the Proving when I turn 18. I need to stay here and keep training-”

Aloy stopped as Erend reached gently for her hands, holding them airily. She felt precious air fill her lungs again at the feel of Erend's hands on hers, letting her palms rest on top of his.

“I'm not asking you to…” He reassured softly.

“What?” Aloy whispered dumbfounded before his words bore into her mind. “What about your mission?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He squeezed her hand. “Besides, y’re not what they are looking for, ain’t it?” There was that smile again. “Even though you’re amazing as it is.”

Just like that, she felt none of the events of that day mattered, like she could take anything that came their way without a sweat. Erend really cared for her - the certainty made her heartbeat rise in a pleasant way - his warm palms held a new comfort and she could feel herself surrender to it.

She was back to the previous evening, unable to take her eyes out of his, eager to stay as long as possible. Erend too, was enthralled by Aloy (as he always had been) and the way the cascading branches complimented her hearty chartreuse irises trained at him.

“I like the place.” He exhaled, breaking the silence. “Why are we here?”

Aloy’s eyes focused a little at the question. “Oh, right. Rost found out about our meetings so I had to be careful. That’s what I was going to tell you last night, before all the mess.”

He snorted. “So that's how it is. We’re each other's secret, for as long as we can hold it.”

Her expression softened, and she leaned back against the frondous tree. She guessed he was right. The two of them against all odds. Somehow, Erend made it sound so easy.

Next up

“Is he talking about the no-mother?”

“You mean the outcast girl?” 

The blonde Nora's stoic expression melted into an almost mischievous smirk. “We might know who you're looking for.”

EXTRA: Map of the secret place under the weeping tree

Chapter Text

Day 7

“Where’s Erend?” Aldur mumbled under a mouthful of food, munching ungracefully the first meal of the day.

A half-chewed crumb flew out of his mouth and hit Joruf right in the face. The man grimaced before wiping it away. “He went to chop some more wood, he forgot about it yesterday.”

“Again?” Aldur pushed down the remnant meal with a big gulp of beer. “At this rate we won’t see him before lunch.” He grumbled.

“C’mon Aldur, cut the lad some slack. You know he couldn’t go with Ersa because of this… wild goose chase.” Joruf thought about where Ersa would be now, a freebooter retaliating against Carja troops, amongst a bunch of mercenaries mad enough to venture into Carja domain. That woman was fierce as a scorching forge, but one can only wonder the trials they were facing. “He needs some time alone to hammer his thinking right.”

The man went back to trail his messy map with a finger, adding yet another cross to the racketted parchment. He took a moment to admire it - that, right under the big X, was the last Nora settlement.

“...aaand nothing.” Aldur sufficed, peeking at the banged up vellum. “Not like these bigoted folk would ever tell us.”

Joruf’s cheeks pulled up in an amused grin. “Are ya’thinking they're hiding her or something?” He cackled. “Did you take whatever spoiled berries Erend had last week?”

Aldur scoffed back, good-naturedly. “Nay, y’know I don't believe in that stupid nonsense.” 

Even with nothing to hide, most Nora they attempted to talk to were standoffish pricks. His ears were full of barks and mumbles of Can't help and Don't know who you're looking for - that is, when they gave them more than a fulminating look. 

“Suppose we’re done then-” He was interrupted by watcher noises and youthful battlecries. Aldur couldn't help but huff as Joruf’s head turned to the sound.

“What about we bid goodbye to this place in style?” Yeah, that's exactly what he didn't want to hear. 

Aldur wielded this war hammer nonetheless. 

Sure enough, a group of fresh out of the forge Nora battled two banged up watchers, and Aldur swiftly smashed the first machine’s side. The metallic creature tumbled to the side and a couple of kids elbowed him out of the way for the kill. 

The ungrateful bastards ignored him as they ganged up on the second watcher, the machine counter attacking violently, propelling various Nora with a whip of its tail.

It was Joruf's weapon that found its way into the lens of the machine, shutting the light out of it definitely. 

Once the threat was over, Joruf looked around.

Dawned boars were scattered around the place with arrows pierced over their bodies. Classic case of a hunt gone wrong, he thought as a boy ran to tend a cut on another kid’s leg.

The whole bunch of teenage Nora eyed Joruf and Aldur before one of them came forward, chest puffed and chin tilted up. 

“We had it handled! We didn't need your help, outlander! ” The bold kid snapped at them.

Joruf pushed down the urge to defend themselves. “We came here looking for a Nora woman with fiery hair… then we will be on our way.” He offered, as he did many times before.

The blonde lad said nothing, but murmurs echoed behind him. “Is he talking about the no-mother?” “You mean the outcast girl?” “The one with the rock-”

“Shut up!” The boy whipped his head to the group before turning his focus back to the duo. “Why do you ask?”

Joruf was at a loss for words. Frankly, he never got this far. Yet, the blonde Nora's stoic expression melted into a mischievous smirk at his hesitation. 

“We might know who you're looking for.”

&-&

Erend boredly poked the fire with a flimsy stick. He’d stacked the wood and honed his axe so nicely he could see his own reflection at the tip of the weapon. But now he waited, nearly dozing off to the quiet chirping and calm rustling of nature.

Everything was just fine. Until loud running and enthusiastic shouts made themselves heard. Aldur and Joruf were back. What were they so hung up about?

“Erend! She is real!” Joruf’s dumbfounded scream was cut by gasps of air once he stopped in front of the younger Oseram.

Erend almost tripped over as he got up. They couldn’t possibly find Aloy, could they? By the forge, was it his fault? 

The questions multiplied in his skull, and the best route he could take was to play dumb. “What is?”

“The forgefire woman!” Joruf added enthusiastically.

A feigned scoff left Erend's lips. “She isn’t real, you said it yourself.” His heart hammered harder in his chest. “Right, Aldur?”

The stout man scratched his beard. “We helped some kids… and they knew about her…” He left a pleased grin. “didn't tell us much, but enough to know where to look.”

Erend tried again. “A few kids? Did it occur to ya that they were messing with y’two?”

A hand grasped his bicep firmly. “Red hair? Nobody knows where exactly she lives? And she doesn't have a mother that birthed her?” Joruf observed them, a fascinated look on his eyes. “That looks like a damn deity if you ask me!”

Erend's worried eyes traveled from Joruf on his right, to Aldur on his left. The last caught his eyes. “Two days. Two days to search every corner west of Mother’s Watch.” Then, he looked over to Joruf, but he might as well keep looking at Erend. “If we don't find her, we leave. Deal?”

The older nodded his head vigorously, an adventurous smile plastered over his face.

Trying to demote his companions proved to be a doomed endeavor. That's when desperate problems call for desperate measures.

&-&

Erend examined the arrow, where it held its place on the dented tree. He crouched to its level, the fabric of his trousers pulling against his thighs as he opened his vision, the feathers on the arrow’s tail blurring as he peered ahead. 

There it was - a tree in the middle of the valley, common enough to not stand out amidst the sparse forest but tall enough to create a clear vantage point - his eyes narrowed to see a small platform attached to it, determination filling his chest.

That had to be where Aloy shot the message the previous day. Maybe that place can give him a lead to find her.

Aldur and Joruf had already begun their search, starting beyond the gate directly west of Mother’s Watch. They were determined to scour every nook and cranny of the valley, from the southernmost point all the way to Mother’s Heart.

Erend watched as the sun began its descent in the clear sky. His companions were nearing his and Aloy’s new meeting point. It was a race between him and them - one he couldn’t afford to lose.

The young man slowed his trek looking up to see stakes, pathways and dents high on the trees around and his heart drummed with joy - this was an usual place.

The perfect place to look for trails , he thought before a thundering sound roared from a nearby agglomeration of trees.

Erend’s muscles tensed as he heard the unmistakable sound. Right away, he found himself face-to-face with a pack of scrappers aggressively running towards him, their glowing eyes piercing through the shadows. The first scrapper lunged as Erend drew his axe with a swift, practiced motion. His blood pounded against his ribcage, all the way to his forearms, as he brought the weapon down in a powerful arc. The machine tumbled onto its side, under the blunt force, vulnerable to Erend’s next blows. 

Meanwhile, the other machines circled him, their mechanical growls filling the air.

“Duck!” A powerful voice called between the shadows, catching Erend’s attention just in time to see the particularly large scrapper pouncing at him.

He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. An arrow whistled through the air, striking the machine’s radar with pinpoint accuracy. From atop the now impaired scrapper, the helping warrior emerged, their blade gleaming as it bit deep into the machine’s neck, sending a shower of sparks and oil.

Meanwhile, Erend focused on the remaining machines. Sparks flew as he, again, swung his axe with all his might, this time collapsing the machine with one singular blow. 

Erend turned to see his fighting partner notching an arrow against another machine. “Look out!” Erend called, before collapsing the last scrapper with a forceful blow, so powerful it took his own feet off the ground.

“Thanks for the help.” Erend barely had time to catch his breath as a proud smile played on his lips. “Name’s Erend!” He pushed a hand to the Nora.

“I know who you are.” The burly man shot him a look as piercing as a freshly sharpened blade, the silence between them stretching menacingly.

Erend kept his friendly composure, masking the weary chill traveling down his spine. “Who do I thank for saving my hide?” He asked, extending his hand once more.

“Rost.”

Erend’s blood froze as the man squeezed his hand, his blue eyes locking into Rost’s gray ones. The words got stuck on his throat as he registered the coldness hitting his hand - the handshake was over and he felt incapable of saying anything.

“I see you also know who I am.” Rost said, stoic and unyielding as a mountain. His gaze bore into Erend with an intensity that rooted him to the spot. “What are you doing here?”

It sounded like a demand. One Erend couldn’t refuse, he acknowledged, gulping hardly trying to steady his nerves. 

Rost wasn’t asking what he was doing in the Embrace, Erend knew that. He felt afraid enough to look around to the place he was, nervous of breaking eye contact and offending the imposing figure before him. 

What was he supposed to say?

‘My friends are searching every corner west of Mother’s Watch for Aloy. She needs to hide, or they will take her to the Claim with us.’

Fire and Spit, he couldn’t say that! Erend could barely imagine Rost's reaction.

‘You are the intruders in our Sacred Lands! And we are the ones that need to hide? No. If I see any of you Oseram again, I’ll kill you!’

Erend’s eyes widened at the thought. He had to think of something else, but was terrified shitless of lying to the towering man. “I’ll leave the Embrace soon.” - a truth - one that wouldn’t get him or his friends killed, he hoped.

Rost’s stern face softened just a fraction. Slowly his cold, seizing eyes morphed into a warm, contemplating look. When he finally spoke, his words had a new softness in them. “I understand. I’ll make sure she knows.”

Erend nodded, feeling the weight of the meaning of his words, a meaning he hadn't noticed before, twisting in his chest. “Thank you.” 

Rost took a step back, his beliefs crashing with the young man in front of him. A boy, tainted since birth, bound to the tribe that formed him, but so genuine and courageous as a true Nora. He could see it in Erend’s eyes - the purity of his intentions and the undeniable love he carried within him - Rost felt incapable of comparing him to the malicious men that crossed their territory’s border and destroyed his life long ago.

With a heavy heart, Rost bowed his head in farewell and turned away in silence.

“And thank you again for saving me.” Erend called from behind him.

Rost’s eyes flicked over the battered machines scattering the place, a glint of respect in his gaze. “It looks like you were doing a pretty good job on your own.” 

With the late afternoon sun blinding him, Erend lost track of the man. Wait. Is the sun that low already?

Oh no. He sprinted southwest to the dim valley. The evening mist clung to the trees, creating an eerie silence that only heightened his anxiety. For some time, the unshared sounds reaching his ears were his sharp and rough steps against the sandy earth underneath his boots.

Erend was close to the meeting point when he heard the unmistakable voice. “Hey! Is that a house up there?”

“Yeah...” Aldur replied. “How do we get there?”

“How’bout you figure it out tomorrow?” Erend interjected, trying to mask his anxiety as he eyed the sun disappearing behind their weeping tree. Thank the forge, Aloy wasn’t there yet.

“Erend, what are you doing here?”

Aloy chanced another glance at the men from her hiding spot and sighed in relief. Erend had appeared, and the two men were facing away from her.

“Looking for you, ya lugheads! Don’t you see it’s getting dark already?” Erend shouted with confidence, a confidence he didn’t have, hoping the duo would follow his ridiculous attempt.

Joruf huffed, looking up at the little trace of civilization amongst the thick forest. “We’ll find the path there first thing tomorrow.” Aloy hid as the man turned to the setting sun. “We won't see anything once it's night anyway.”

The men turned to leave, but Aldur looked at Erend once more. “Ya’not comin’?”

“You guys go ahead, don't worry about me.” Erend urged them.

Joruf and Aldur shared a look and the former rolled his eyes before resuming his walk. 

Erend climbed the small rock path to the stately tree. Once he leaned against its trunk, he took in the fresh evening breeze, breathing it out to the wilderness silence. His heart pounded, but he felt a small measure of relief knowing Aloy was safe, for now.

“What was that about?” Aloy's voice rang out behind him.

Erend jolted, spinning around to face her, his heart high in his throat. She stepped closer, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Jumpy, are we?” 

“A little.” He looked up from his doubled-over position, clutching his chest. He met her wide grin with a dejected look. “I have bad news.”

The smile on her face faltered as Erend straightened up. Aloy waited for his explanation and, soon enough, it came. “Someone, some kids , tipped them off. Aldur and Joruf are looking for you, everywhere west of Mother’s Watch.” Erend scratched his mohawk before slicking it back over his head. “We were lucky they didn’t find you. That was a close call.”

Both looked pensively to the place the duo had been, their breaths mingling with the chilling dusk. Under the pink evening sky, Erend felt a sense of loss, knowing that he couldn’t stop them. “They agreed their search wouldn't pass the two day mark. Maybe if I get rid of their boots I can buy some time and they can't search everyw-”

“That won’t do.” Aloy numbly said, her eyes transfixed on the waning moon. “That house on the hill?” The look Aloy gave him as she sat on the cold stony ground said it all. “Yeah.”

The young Oseram sighed heavily, the rustling leaves above seeming to echo his weariness. He lowered himself beside her, the chill of the earth seeping into his bones. Another silence settled over them and Aloy pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly as if to shield herself from the world. 

“How do you think they would react, if they saw me?” 

The image brought a chuckle out of Erend. “ Ah! They would be surprised for sure, even more Aldur, he was skeptical of this from the moment he left the Claim.” 

Aloy smiled at him, her hair dancing in the breeze. Her chartreuse eyes were still edged with worry. “Let me rephrase that: How would they react, knowing I couldn’t go with you?”

The words lingered between them, a needed moment for Erend’s mind to examine his Oseram friends. “Well, they mean no harm, I know that.” Erend’s voice was barely above a whisper, the fading sunlight painting his face with a soft silvery glow.

“Joruf could have a harder time accepting it, he seems to be in high spirits now that he got intel about you. But he is also patient and supportive. He always keeps us up when everything is falling apart.” Erend’s mind travelled to months prior - a Carja raid retreating when Joruf helped a badly wounded smith up, his kind hold on, I’m taking you out of here deadened under the cries of pain and protests of the man; Joruf’s rebuttal you’re not dying today, hold tight as he passed them.

Aloy listened intently, her mind focused on Erend's words while her hands absentmindedly rubbed against the goosebumps coating her skin. She only became aware of the chill when Erend tentatively scooted closer, his hand reaching around her, enveloping her cold arms, and the heat of his body seeped so comfortably into her bones. 

She breathed into his embrace, her head relaxing against his shoulder. “What about Aldur?”

Erend gently pushed a lock of fiery hair out of her face before resuming. “Where Joruf is enthusiastic, Aldur is skeptical. He’s more of a down to steel type of guy.” He hummed. “I can't say… The war changed him - all of us, really - but he… hardened, I guess. Developed a great sense of duty, always vigilant, always on edge.” 

Erend recalled one of the first Carja raids - Despite the warnings, Oseram folk still left settlements without a care, and Aldur was one of them. They will never reach this high up , he’d say. They appeared without warning, that day. The gates closed, and the few Oseram roaming outside had to survive alongside the Oseram warriors protecting the settlement. Some were taken captive. From that day on, Erend always found the once boisterous and overconfident Aldur on guard duty, silently scanning for threats. 

“It forged him straight and sharp. Aldur keeps us on our toes, taught us to anticipate the worst and hope for the best. He’s the one you want by your side when things get tough.”

Aloy twisted her neck to look Erend in the eye. “You three seem to balance eachother out nicely.”

Erend smiled down at her. “Couldn’t ask for better company. We make one hell of a team.”

There was silence once more, Aloy and Erend basking in each other's confort. The sky above deepened into a rich indigo, now dotted with the first stars of the night, as crickets made themselves heard through the wilderness. Mixed with it, the wind brushed against the soft, cascading branches above them, the curtains of leaves whispering as they swayed.

“If you trust them, so do I.” Aloy rose from her spot and pulled Erend to his feet. “Make sure they expect me once the sun peaks over the mountain.” 

Erend wasn't oblivious to where Aloy was heading with those questions, but her unwavering commitment still took him by surprise. “Are you sure?”

She looked into his silvery blue eyes - there was no fear in them, only sadness. “I am.” She gently squeezed his hand before releasing it. “See you tomorrow.”

“Wait!” Erend called out, his chest tightening. “I need to tell you something.”

Aloy turned just enough to meet his gaze, a graceful smile playing on her lips. "Can you tell me tomorrow? I have to go."

The courage Erend had mustered deflated under her beautiful smile. "Yeah." He thought of Rost, he could also share the news with her. Or maybe tomorrow he could tell her more freely. So, he forced a smile of his own. "See you tomorrow."

Day 8

“Again with that nonsense, Erend?” Aldur roared, sleep still hazy on his eyes.

Erend turned to Joruf, his pity look slightly better than Aldur’s hard, frustrated frown. “Listen to me, I’m telling the truth! Just trust me this once.”

“Erend…” Joruf patted Erend’s shoulder, letting his hand rest there. “We get it. We’ll search for her, that’s what we’ve been doing, right?”

“Yes, but you gotta understand—”

Aldur’s face twisted with irritation, his patience worn thin. “Enough, Erend! We’ve been through this before, we know it wasn't been easy since—”

Joruf looked alarmed at the man beside him. “Aldur…”

“No, Joruf! He needs to face reality.” Aldur snapped, his voice rising before taking a cautious edge. “We’re sorry about Ersa, but you need to set your mind straight. I know you’re struggling to know how she is and resent that you couldn’t join her… and you probably have a lot of questions, we get it, boy. But this has to stop.. You can’t keep running from problems like that…” Aldur’s expression softened slightly, a mix of anger and concern. “We care about you, Erend. That’s why we need you to accept the truth. We can’t keep indulging these fantasies and your little escapes.” 

Aldur pressed his hand into Erend’s vacant shoulder and grasped Joruf’s bicep with the other. His focus traveled amongst them. “We’re a team, right? We need to stick together.”

Erend broke free from their grasp, taking a raspy step back as he met Aldur’s gaze, desperation in his eyes. “Yeah, It hurts that I'm not fighting by Ersa’s side. It hurts not knowing how she is, or being incapable to help my own sister after everything she has done for me and it hurts being apart after all we faced together. And yes , It is frustrating knowing that our families and friends are fighting for their lives on the battlefield and being taken captive while we stay here!” Erend’s took a big gulp of air and held his fist back down as the duo listened intently. “But those things are not important right now. This is not about Ersa. I’m not trying to escape reality or revolt against whatever you think I’m going through.”

Erend's eyes passed the duo, focusing on the new light crossing the horizon, blinding him with the whiteness of its brilliance. Finally, the sun’s rays reached the peak of the mountain, and with it a graceful figure emerged from the morning glow, walking steadily towards him.

The other men turned to understand what caught Erend’s eyes. And, just as they did, the sun relented in its blinding light to reveal a woman - humble garments, fiery hair, greenshine eyes. 

Joruf’s voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes full of admiration. “It’s her!”

She moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the clearing before settling on Erend. Relief washed over his face, after his expression softened, and he nodded slowly. “There she is.”

As Aloy approached the trio, the halo around her diminished to show an ordinary Nora - a beautiful and strong young girl, the same girl Erend fell in love with, but had her own path to follow.

Aldur’s eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed as he scrutinized the newcomer. Him and Joruf exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of hope and uncertainty. “So you’re the girl Erend told us so much about.”

Erend almost scoffed at Aldur’s words. He couldn’t utter a word about her before accusations and mocking words were thrown back at him, but he had to do it, for Aloy - for all of them. Aldur was right about something - he needed to stop running - even if it hurt him.

Erend positioned himself next to Aloy, bravely confronting the two men. “Aloy is the girl those Nora boys told you about. But she isn’t who we are looking for.” 

Aloy quickly followed. “Erend told me why you came to the Embrace. The things you went through… were devastating to say the least… and I wish I could help. But I have my own battles to fight here.” She looked back and forth between the two Oseram. “I’m sorry. I hope you understand.”

“You don’t have to apologize, girl.” Aldur sighed heavily, rubbing his temples in exasperation.  “I’m done with this nonsense.”

Joruf’s expression fell, his shoulders slumping as he processed the disappointment. “Don’t worry, Aloy. We knew this was a doomed quest since the beginning.” He tried to pull a polite smile before succumbing to helping a grumbling Aldur pack one of the bed mats.

Aloy stood there, next to Erend, watching the scene unraveling before her. “So it is true.” She remembered Rost’s unusual words as they had their supper, the empathetic gray eyes that stared at her illuminated by the dim fireplace. “You’re leaving…”

Joruf straightened from his hunched position to face Aloy. “Well, you have your own path to follow.” He grunted, pulling a heavy bag off the ground.” As it turns out, so do we.”

“That’s what I wanted to tell you yesterday, when you left.” Aloy’s eyes trembled as they crossed eyes, chartreuse green and silvery blue conversing silently. Erend breathed somberly before turning to his friends, his voice steady and resolute. “But we don’t need to leave yet, we still have to… gather supplies! Food and water and… and some medicine! Aloy knows the best berries here! Might be good to be prepared, right?”

That seemed to be the final blow on Aldur’s anvil as the man emerged from the shadows, his silhouette framed by the rising sun. Aldur’s stout figure walked to them, stopping a few paces away, his eyes meeting Erend’s with authority. There was a gnarl, like the man intended to bark at him - maybe profanities, maybe truths - but caught himself soon enough to warn the younger pair. “We leave when the sun touches the western mountain.” Erend’s eyes glanced at the nicer Oseram - arms crossed and a complacent look. Aldur hiss grabbed his attention again. “Not a moment more.” 

Erend gulped. “Understood.” He took a step back, before grasping Aloy’s hand and leading her away.

Once the couple was out of sight, Aldur gestured around in frustration, finally stopping to clutch his hair. “Unbelievable. People are dying while we’re here, which is stupid enough, and now this .”

“I’m surprised you didn’t freak out on Erend.” Joruf added, neatly furling his makeshift bed. 

“Fire and spit.” Aldur tossed a cream coloured shirt into his bag. “What’s the deal with that forge-forsaken boy?”

“ Heh , so you don’t know?” Joruf looked over to his companion. “Didn’t you see the look on his face?” Joruf’s thin lips lifted into a smirk. “Our boy Erend is in love, my friend.”

&__&

The air was cool and crisp, carrying the earthy scent of the forest floor. The soothing sound of birdsong mingled with the faint aroma of wildflowers, a starking contrast to the turmoil swirling in Aloy’s mind. But she was never the one to put her thoughts into words - Who would be there to listen, right? - so she followed Erend silently. 

Some time passed, and he let go of her hand to pick a plant. Erend turned to her and revealed the catch - Hintergold - the few little red flowers looked even smaller in his palms. “I learned from someone special this ones will do me good.” 

A humble medicinal pouch was placed into his hands, covering the light splash of beauty. “I believe this will suffice… at least for a couple of days.” As he looked at Aloy, Erend felt his chest torn with warm affection and deep sorrow. The golden-green glint in her eyes was gone, lifeless. “The Nora don’t trade with me but I kno-”

“Hey, hey . Aloy.” Erend grabbed gently onto both sides of her face, worry gnawing at his heart as she numbly looked forward, her skin pale against his fingers. “What’s wrong?” 

She caught herself in the reflection of Erend's eyes. “You’re leaving.” The world seemed to conspire against her - the most important things within her grasp but unattainable - it was even more twisted that she only met Erend for a week. 

A week prior Aloy was well - hunting, fighting, surviving. But now she couldn’t, she felt unable to go back to the way it was. “What now?” Aloy voiced, more to herself than to Erend. 

Aloy didn't want to be alone again. She was never alone to begin with. She had Old Grata, she had Karst and Rost. But Aloy didn’t want to lose Erend . 

She felt one of his hands leave her cheek, coldness hitting her skin, but she hadn’t strayed away from his soft blue eyes. “We take the most of the time we have together.” He spoke dearly, placing the light medicinal pouch back in her hands.

Erend smiled at her. “Let’s leave the what ifs for the end of the day, okay? We’ll figure it out.”

Aloy relaxed into his smile, trusting in his words. They could bid their goodbyes later.

However, later came too soon. 

Between trading with Karst for medical supplies and hunting together, Aloy and Erend found themselves back where they first met. The fresh woody smell clung to the earth and the once sacred silence was still there, but now charged with the eerie premonition of goodbye.

For a moment, Aloy and Erend stood there, taking in the scenario. As they gazed at the dawned tree and logs left behind in the clearing, their faces mixed from soft smiles to somber gazes. 

Aloy took a tentative hand to the horizon. She adjusted her pinky finger, resting it in the line of the western mountain where the sun would make its descent. The outcast shut one of her chartreuse eyes. Then, folded her index finger. Next, the middle one. 

There it was - the sun - upon the remaining two digits, a remainder of the short time they had together. Aloy looked at Erend, noticing his own gaze already fixated on her.

She let her arm fall gently against her side. “We don’t have much time.”

It was a sad sentence carried away by the wind. Erend knew that, and she knew he did. But time was passing quickly and she needed Erend to say something, anything, before it was too late.

“Remember the first time we met here?” Erend simply questioned. Aloy nodded, her mind racing with memories, a bittersweet feeling nestling in her chest. Erend interrupted the train of thought. “That day I was eager to leave this place as quickly as possible.” He admitted. “Now I don’t know if I have the strength to go.”

Please don’t go. She couldn’t stop him though. It wasn’t fair. But what was fair in all this? He needed to go, she needed to stay. She couldn't let the seed of hope bloom unrightfully in her heart. “I’m going to miss you.” Aloy met Erend’s gaze, desperation in her eyes. “So, so much.” She insisted, her voice breaking.

Erend brought his hands to support Aloy, his touch easing just faintly the heaviness pressing on her shoulders, her neck smoothing into his palms. “Not as much as I will.” He guaranteed, his thumbs tenderly caressing the curve of her jaw. “I have to do this.”

Aloy mouthed an ‘ I know’ - any further use of her voice would result in an unwanted sob followed by tears she had to shed later (not now that she had to be strong, because Erend had a purpose, one she wasn’t part of) - she blinked in the tears forming in her eyes.

Another silence settled over them, thick and suffocating, as Aloy reached to her belt and retrieved a cylindrical wooden box, a hintergold flower carved delicately on its lid. “Hold onto this.” She caught one of Erend's hands, pressing the recently carved rings along the sides into his open palm. “Make sure to come back to me in one piece.”

Erend met her eyes, sharing a look that spoke volumes of emptiness and unspoken grief. I wish I could promise that. The sun touched the mountain, casting long shadows across the landscape.

There was nothing Aloy could do now but wait. She had to trust Erend knew what he was doing - far away, in a battle she wasn’t sure they could win. 

“Erend.” A hiss was heard from the trees, and Aloy and Erend turned to see the sun dip below the horizon, Joruf waiting under its last rays.

“Give me a minute…” Erend tiredly conceded, before the man disappeared again. The young Oseram absentmindedly traced a thumb over the recently carved circles around the container. “Thank you…” His voice trembled, barely breaking the oppressive stillness around them. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything to give you back.”

Her expression darkened unexpectedly. Aloy took a deep breath, her eyes searching Erend’s face for any sign of deception. “So, what now? You’re just going to leave?”

Aloy held his gaze, straightening further, weight in the ball of her feet. Erend leaned slightly forward. Aloy tilted her chin upward defiantly. Erend tipped his head, and her eyes fluttered shut. Aloy felt his warm breath against her skin, warmer as the air around them grew colder. 

Then, finally, the soft press of his lips just in the corner of her own. Aloy felt a soft fuzzy feeling traveling her skull as his warm skin touched her cold cheek. 

It was a feather-like touch, but a powerful assurance that sealed the silent vow. As Erend retracted, their breaths mingled, a small confort before the cold evening hit them again. 

Their eyes crossed again with a new intensity. “I’ll be here.” She said simply, her voice carrying the weight of his journey and the promise of what was to come.

&_&

That evening Aloy let Erend vanish from her life, as quickly as he had entered it. She would be lying if she swore she didn't cry in that same clearing, tears flowing once Erend went out of view. 

Ever since that day, Aloy would visit the place they first met. The first days, his absence made her feel like the hurt was never going to heal, moisture filling her eyes each day she came upon the clearing. 

The wound open in her chest felt bigger and scarier than the one that united them. But Aloy continued to do what she knew best: fighting, hunting, surviving.

And since that moment, she vowed to help anyone that dared speak to her, even if no one ever treated her the way Erend did. She did it anyway, not only because of her humanity and kindness, but in a way to honor the young man that turned the crater on her chest a little bit lighter, until the day they would meet again.

Yet, days turned into months, and months into years, as she waited for the Oseram that filled and tore her heart to fill that void once again.

___

Chapter Text

DAY 1136

As the convoy saw the high wooden gate in the distance, Erend looked up, his hand sitting easily where once was a bleeding wound. Now there was hardened muscle, the scar so faint against his skin you had to strain to tell it had ever been there. Yet its maker was fresh on his brain, their adventures firmly etched into his memory.

“There’s Mother’s Heart. Stay on the road and make sure the guards see us coming.”

Erend wasn’t paying attention to Olin’s voice, nor the way the Carja priest approached him in apprehension, his heart was divided - he had to make sure this diplomatic mission went well, make his king and his sister proud. But the other half of his heart eagerly waited for an opportunity to step back in that clearing, hoping to see the girl that filled his dreams again.

But the more he focused west, prying into the forest, the more Aloy filled his thoughts. Then he looked up again, not to the gate this time, but for the beautiful warm colored sky, and memories came rushing once more. “Give me 5 minutes, I’ll come back here.”

Olin hissed his name a couple of times before Erend was deep enough in the faint forest, his feet carrying him like he did that same trek all his life. He came to a halt once he recognized the place. Young trees filled the once vacant place, the stub of a few old cut trees mouldy and covered by soft moss. The smell of freshly cut wood was gone as any trace of what happened there years prior.

Erend leaned against one of the trees, his weight slightly bending its slim trunk. He inhaled the Embrace’s hearty scent and lifted his gaze to the mountain ahead - Did Aloy still live there, isolated, following the path she once had? Or did she find her answers, a new life to fight for, maybe someone to call her own? 

His blue eyes casted downward back to one of the decayed stubs, taken by new nature. - Would she even remember him? - It was a lifetime ago. 

He slid one of his hands through his mohawk before walking away.

Ugh… Maybe he should stop being so naive.

&_&

The kind elder, Teersa, led them through a multitude of people, to a secluded place on top of the settlement. “The stage will be all yours in a moment, due to the Proving all Nora are here ready to hear your message.”

The Proving - there she was again, snucking her place into his heart. - Did she already do it? Was she here today, to run in it, get the answers she yearned?

He chanced a look to the patrons that gathered around the pulpit, before catching his wandering mind again. - This was about ensuring peace, he was not letting his stupid heart get in the way.

The convoy waited patiently as the sun set for their turn to talk. Two matriarchs stepped forward to the growing crowd. “In a moment we shall bless the Proving. But first we have guests to welcome.”

Aloy arrived just in time to see what all the fuss was about. Envoys from the Carja, Teersa told her, but something different caught her eye - a familiar face, half hidden by the long evening shadows - and her heart skipped a beat.

For a moment, Aloy thought she was daydreaming, overwhelmed by the screams and shouts of so many people, but the man stepped forward to the crowd and any doubt that remained in her mind was gone.

Older, more mature, but his warm smile and kind eyes were unmistakable. Erend. He carried a confident voice, the poise of a righteous man, and in his eyes, the kindness that kept him in her heart.

He stopped his speech, just as his eyes travelled to her. Aloy’s smile grew wider as they recognized eachother amidst the crowd. The years melted away, and it felt like no time had passed at all.

Erend couldn’t contain his exhilaration as he, as discreetly as his euphoric heart could, went around the reading priest, jumped from the stage and ran to where she was. For a few heartbeats, they stood looking into each other, green meeting blue, like thirsty grass and a yearning stream destined to complement one another. Their surprised heavy breaths competed with their drumming hearts, yet he called ever so softly. “Aloy?”

“Erend.” She answered, then hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with memories of their shared glances and secret meetings. Gathering her courage, Aloy approached him further, her heart pounding in her chest. “You’re here.”

“I am.” He didn’t dare stray from her face, like she was a mirage that would be gone once he looked away. “I didn’t know you could be even more beautiful than before.”

Aloy sighed a shy smile, looking away just enough to see the man on the pulpit unravel his scroll farther. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” 

She was aware of the understatement - His endearing smile, his muscled form and the soft wrinkles around his warm eyes - She had forgotten how much she missed him.

Aloy didn’t register the moment she put her arms around him or why she did that when she was already despised by every person in that place. But as he pressed her against him, she let herself have the freedom to wonder: She didn’t want to lose Erend again. 

“So, you work for the Carja now.” She muttered into his chest before looking up. “Willingly, I suppose.”

Erend scratched his mohawk with a sheepish smile. “Yeah, a lot has changed since then.” Aloy searched his eyes before he resumed. “After I left the Embrace I couldn’t go back to the Claim. So I looked for Ersa; Joined the Oseram freebooters and helped Avad overthrow his bloodlust father.” He straightened proudly. “Now my sister is the Captain of the whole Vanguard; My captain, at the Sun King’s first line of defence.”

“You said your sister was taken captive.” Aloy interrupted, her curiosity taking the best of herself. “How did she survive?”

“Oh, it’s a story all right. A long one at that.” Erend’s eyes shifted somewhere else, and Aloy caught his focus to notice Teersa waiting ahead. She felt his at ease persona become shy. “Maybe I should tell you later, if you have the time.”

Erend backtracked as he saw the old lady patiently wait for Aloy. Now Erend wondered if Aloy was bound to this place, like he was to Meridian. Of course, time didn’t stop. Life continued everchanging, even when he selfishly thought otherwise.

He wouldn’t invite her to stay in Meridian; He wouldn’t promise her a whole new life, if she wanted it. She wouldn’t appear in his life and everything would work out; 

Yet, he felt Aloy’s warm hand rest on his forearm, as if she had heard his spiraling thoughts. “Tomorrow I get the answers I fought for all this time.” She hesitated before kissing his bearded cheek, like she had done a long time ago. Her chartreuse eyes shone, crossing his own. “Then I’m all yours. For as long as you’ll have me.”

Her lips curved into a smile: He was something she believed in. Something worth fighting for.